About this course

Entry requirements

You should have a bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically 2:1 or above.

To apply for this course you should have an undergraduate degree in economics, social policy, sociology or politics.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years, you completed your degree in the UK, you may be exempt from our English language requirements

Months of entry

October

Course content

Combine the academic study of social policy with a comprehensive exploration of research methods.

The MRes Social Policy is designed for those developing careers as policy analysts or applied researchers in national or international social or public policy organisations or government departments; and prospective PhD students in social or public policy.

You'll develop experience and skills through analysing, comparing and evaluating social and public policies. You'll be supported in identifying, investigating and realising your own original research within an active research community. We encourage a diverse intake in terms of experience, qualifications and interests, to stimulate mutual experience and learning.

South West Doctoral Training Partnership

This MRes is recognised by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), specifically, as part of the larger South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP). It can be taken as a course in its own right or as part of the 1+3 (MRes + PhD) pathway, which enables successful graduates to proceed to a PhD.

If you apply for the 1+3 you must indicate your preferred PhD route in your application. Progression from the MRes to the MPhil or PhD stage is dependent on an acceptable level of achievement.

Careers

The Department of Social & Policy Sciences is committed to ensuring that postgraduate students acquire a range of subject-specific and generic skills during their training.

Our graduates generally go on to work in a wide variety of organisations and roles, such as:

social research in universities and research institutes, government, business, voluntary organisations and international organisations

public policy analysis at local, national and international levels

public information provision and campaigning within organisations concerned with wellbeing, sustainability and social justice